The UAE Warriors will stage their second triple-header at the Etihad Arena this weekend as their 2023 calendar of events rolls on.
The weekend’s action opens with the UAE Warriors Africa edition 5 (6pm) on Friday followed by the International card on Saturday and the 10th Arabia edition on Sunday (4pm on both days).
Headlining the triple-header are two title fights in the Arabia edition as featherweight champion Ali Al Qaisi defends his title against Ahmed Faress while Badreddine Diani and Abdullah Boushehri clash in a welterweight bout.
Al Qaisi, who holds the promotion’s featherweight belts for both Arabia and International divisions, takes on Egyptian Faress in the rematch just under a year after their first meeting.
Jordan's Al Qaisi regained his International featherweight belt last September from Canadian Jesse Arnett, who he is set to meet in a third rematch in May.
The “Royal Jordanian” fighter won an unanimous decision over Faress in their previous clash, and he is confident of replicating that result in Sunday’s main card.
“There is a good side and a bad side of Ali, but I wish to bring out my better side for this fight on Sunday,” Al Qaisi, 13-6, said during the pre-fight presser on Wednesday.
“This fight was arranged on short notice but I’m ready to take on anyone. I also think it’s a good idea to have a go before the fasting month of Ramadan, and obviously the third meeting with Jesse.”
Faress is sure of putting up a better show than he did a year ago. He arrives in UAE following victory over Cedric Doyle of South Africa in the promotion’s Africa 4 series three weeks ago.
“I’m into my 25th professional fight. Aside from my defeat to him [Al Qaisi], I have done a lot of work which he is going to learn about me,” Faress, who has a 17-7 record, said.
Diani (5-2) will defend his Arabia welterweight title against the man he originally beat to win the belt, Boushehri (9-3) of Kuwait.
The Africa edition that kicks off the weekend’s card is headlined by the contest between the former EFC champion and UAE Warriors title challenger Sylvester Chipfumbu (8-5) and submission specialist Imad Bouamri (6-5). Comoros’ Kevin Oumar (8-4) takes on Egypt’s Abdul El Wahab Saeed (7-3) in the co-main event.
The International card sees two newcomers in the promotion, with Austrian featherweight Mochamed Machaev (12-1) meeting Kazakh Bagdos Olzhabay (13-3).
The co-main event has two of the top bantamweights going head to head as former UAE Warriors champion Vinicius de Oliveira (17-3) clashes with former ONE and Rizin fighter Hikaru Yoshino (12-2).
Also on the card are UFC veterans Mark Striegl (18-4) and Alex da Silva (21-4). Both are making their UAE Warriors debut.
The%C2%A0specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Etwo%20permanent%20magnet%20synchronous%20motors%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Etwo-speed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E625hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E850Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERange%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E456km%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh737%2C480%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
